Essaouira has a port, but there are no passenger ferries. The nearest passenger ferry port is in Tangier.
I will tell you all the ways to get to Essaouira from nearby major cities.
By bus
It is worth going to Essaouira for a couple of days: the road from the nearest major cities takes a lot of time, and the schedule will not allow a measured introduction to the city and catch its atmosphere.
- Between Marrakech and Essaouira there are 183 km by road, the crossing takes approximately 3 hours.
- There are 376 kilometers between Casablanca and Essaouira, a 7-hour drive.
- It takes 181 kilometers and 3.5 hours to get from Agadir to Essaouira.
Different guidebooks and traveler reviews indicate different locations for the bus station in Essaouira. In fact, there are three stations in the city: besides the city Gare routière, there are separate stations of CTM and Supratours companies. The closest to the medina is the Supratours bus station. From the Gare routière and the CTM station to the entrance to the medina is about another 1 km.
The city bus station in Morocco is always a bustling, noisy place that is shocking and eerily unnerving. Crowds with bags, shouting callers and drivers on all sides make it impossible to get through. They are usually taken by local small companies, most of which don’t even have a website or the ability to buy a ticket in advance. What you need to know about buses in Morocco
I recommend taking the buses of the big modern companies — CTM and Supratours. They have separate departure stations that are nice to be at, websites with timetables and fairly new buses.
Approximate one way bus fares from/to Essaouira:
- Marrakech — from 75 DH.
- Agadir — from 70 DH.
- Casablanca — from 140 DH.
Supratours buses
In Essaouira, the Supratours bus departure station is a stone’s throw from the medina and the coast. Convenient because you can walk to it. In larger cities, the Supratours bus station is usually near the train station — this carrier is owned by the Moroccan railway company.
Number of flights per day from/to Essaouira:
- Marrakech: 7 flights, of which 2 are evening flights;
- Agadir — 1 flight;
- Casablanca — 4 flights.
CTM buses
The STM bus station in Essaouira is located about 2 km from the Old City. If you take the STM bus, be prepared for a long walk or additional cab costs.
Number of flights per day from/to Essaouira:
- Marrakech — 2 flights per day;
- Agadir — 3 flights;
- Casablanca — 4 flights.
On the Grand Taxi.
Morocco has an unusual cab, the intercity Grand Taxi. These are spacious cars that are used to travel between cities. The drivers fill the car completely with passengers, 5—6 people each, so the departure time is unpredictable.
Grand cab stands are located in different parts of the city, there are also near bus stations. Before departure, it is necessary to agree on the price in advance, so that there are no surprises.
With excursion from Marrakech or Agadir
Essaouira is easy and inexpensive to reach on your own if you plan to stay overnight in the city. But a one-day round trip by public transportation will be exhausting. In this case, an organized excursion (or rather, transfer) may be a good idea: you will be picked up from your hotel in your city and brought back to your hotel. Sometimes the price includes a guided tour of Essaouira in English or French.
- Day trip from Marrakech and back from 25 € per person;
- A day trip from Agadir and back is from 40 € per person.
From Casablanca there are also similar excursions, but the price starts from 240 €, and on the road will have to spend 5—7 hours one way.
By rental car
Morocco has good roads, plenty of European and local rental agencies and low car rental prices: you can rent a car for 20 € per day at Rental Cars. Local companies are cheaper, but you should read the contract carefully and do not skimp on full insurance.
The price of gasoline in Morocco is about 10—11 DH. A car becomes profitable if you drive at least two people. But with a rented car you can stop on the way in picturesque places, for example, at argan groves that grow along the highway before Essaouira. Local goats climb the trees due to the lack of ground vegetation, and Moroccans have turned this feature first into a source of argan oil and then into a separate attraction, and charge money for photos.
By airplane
Essaouira Mogador Airport (Essaouira Mogador Airport) is served by Royal Air Maroc, the national airline. There are three flights per week from Marrakech and Casablanca: Tuesday, Friday, Sunday.
Ticket prices are not cheap: from Casablanca one way from 40 €, from Marrakech from 100 €.
It is possible to fly to Essaouira by direct flight from European countries. From Brussels, London, Marseille and some other French cities there are low-cost carriers with tickets starting from 20 €.
